Plan details conditions for Cuba
By Frank Davies . fdavies@herald.com. Published Tuesday, August 1, 2000, in the Miami Herald .
PHILADELPHIA -- Cuban-American officials in the Florida delegation celebrated a firm pro-embargo plank in the party platform that Republican leaders adopted Monday, despite deep divisions in the party over Cuba policy.
Reps. Lincoln Díaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Miami said George W. Bush strongly favored continuing the embargo until Cuba frees political prisoners, legalizes opposition groups and commits to elections -- conditions written explicitly into the platform.
Bush's choice for vice president, Dick Cheney, had expressed opposition to unilateral sanctions while he was chief executive officer of a Dallas-based oil supplies company, but several Florida Republicans said they were not concerned.
``There's never been unanimity among foreign policy advisors on some of these issues, but the one response that's important is the president's,'' said Al Cárdenas, state party chairman.
Leading Republicans from Henry Kissinger to George Shultz have called for an end to the embargo against Cuba, and Congress is debating the issue this session. Majorities in the House and Senate have voted in principle to allow the sale of food and medicine, but GOP leaders have blocked that
move.
The 2000 platform calls for active American support for Cuban dissidents and the continuation of the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966, which grants protection to Cuban refugees.
``We've never had a Cuba plank that was this clear and concise,'' said Rep. Bill McCollum, Florida's GOP Senate candidate.
Orange County Commission Chairman Mel Martinez and two Miami state legislators -- state Sen. Mario Díaz-Balart and state Rep. Gaston Cantens -- also attended a news conference to tout the platform.
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